Surgical and Advanced Techniques

In combination with modern anaesthetic machines and equipment to monitor respiration, blood pressure, oxygenation and more, our well trained and competent staff perform a large range of surgical procedures and utilise many advanced surgical techniques.

In small animals this includes desexing, caesareans, airway surgeries, intestinal obstructions, wound stitching and tumour removal. We have an extensive array of orthopaedic equipment which allows us to tackle a wide range of conditions including fractures, dislocations and cruciate ligament ruptures.

Desexing

We routinely desex both cats and dogs daily. If you are not planning on breeding from your cat or dog we highly recommend desexing them. Intact animals are prone to many medical conditions and behavioural conditions that desexing can prevent. Desexing also stops your animals from breeding with feral animals, contributing to feral populations and endangering native wildlife.

Ultrasound

All our clinics are equipped with modern ultrasound machines, used by our vets who have undergone advanced training in this field. Ultrasound machines send out very high frequency sound waves and then use the reflection of these sound waves to create an image of a body organs. They are a very useful diagnostic tool for looking at soft tissues in the body. Ultrasound is an effective tool in determining pregnancies and diagnosing many complex medical conditions.

X-ray

Our clinics are equipped with a modern digital x-ray machine to produce instant excellent quality images. X-rays are a great way to look at what is happening inside your pet. They can be used to examine bone or soft tissues. Conditions affecting bones that may be diagnosed include; fractures, dislocations, osteoarthritis and cancers. Conditions affecting soft tissues that can be evaluated include; intestinal tract problems like foreign bodies, obstructions and constipation, heart failure, pneumonia, cancers and bladder stones.

Laboratory Testing

All our clinics possess a range of laboratory equipment which allows us to carry out microscopic examinations, blood and urine testing. These tests are often a crucial part of the diagnostic process. Our nurses and vets are well trained in their use and interpretation and we find ourselves regularly making use of these tests to come up with the right answers

ECG

Electrocardiography (ECG) is a diagnostic test that measures the heart’s electrical activity which controls the heart beat. We use this machine in cases where the heart’s rate and/or rhythm has been affected by a disease process to help us come up with the best treatment option.

Faecal Egg Testing

All the birds and animals that we deal with in our practice have the potential to be infected with intestinal worms and some of these can be passed on to people. A lot of these worms produce eggs that come out in faeces. Many animals carry and spread these parasites without any obvious problem. If clinical signs do develop they can include diarrhoea, anaemia, pot belly and vomiting.

Faecal egg counting allows us to diagnose if worms are causing illness in your pet or livestock animal. It is also a very effective tool for detecting resistance to drenches or de-worming products which is a major issue especially for goats, sheep and horses in our region. Whilst looking for worm eggs we sometimes detect several other parasites that cause disease such as coccidia, giardia and neospora.

We are more than happy to discuss how this procedure can help you manage your pets and animals’ health.